Resilient device



March 19, 1935. o. w. LouDENsLAGER 1,994,722

RESILIENT DEVICE 1 Filed July 9, 1931 waited Mar. 19,1935 y l 1,994,722

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-"1E Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 9, '1931, Serial No. 549,706 i 19 Claims. (omer-1j) This invention relates to shock absorbers or restrengthens the 'Washer but `does not interfere silient connecting devices and more particularly with application of i'luid pressure means to the lip to such devices employing fluid cushioning means. :20. of the' flexible 'member 19. The whole vunit or One object of the invention is to providean air sealing means 18 is positioned by a locking ring cylinder including resilientI device in which the 24 in achamber 25iormed inthe inner end or the y 5 resiliency of the device will be substantially cap 14. The chamber 25 is lled with grease or constant over long periods ofuse without adjustother heavy lubricant 26, and to this end. a presinent. sure gun valve fitting 27 is provided on the cap 14,

Another object of theV invention is to providea Iwhich opensv tothe chamber 25.

mechanically strong, cushioning device which is The rod 12 is provided with extensible'means 10 adjustable to any desired resiliency, but which will and for this purpose the outer end of the rod is be suciently light in weight as to be particularly provided with a cap 31, which is internally threadadaptable to use on aircraft. i ed and receives a threadedrod 32. The threaded Another object of the invention is to provide rodv32 is locked in position by a lock nut 33'Which improved sealing means and a new combination of engages with the cap 31. The rod 32 is adapted to 15 parts in a fluidl cushioning device. y be secured to one of the members to bev connected Another object of the invention resides in the together preferably through the agency oiy a ball provision of resilient connecting means which are and socket joint, which is indicated diagrammatiparticularly adapted to secure bulkheads in place cally vat;34. The cap 31 is lockedon the end of in the main rings oi a rigid airship. n the piston rod 12 bya nut 36, and leather or other 20 For a better understanding of the invention, cushioning means 3'1 is provided between the nut reference may now be had to the accompanying V36 andthe gland nut 16. drawing, in which: r y Surrounding the cap 13 is a collar 41 which is Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating provided with a number of radially extending lugs the device embodying the invention. 42' formedr with suitable eyelets 43. The collar 41 25 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a bulkhead netand thus the cylinder 10 can be secured by any ting and main frame of a rigid airship illustrating suitable means such as wires 44, to the other of the manner in which the resilient device connects the members to be resiliently connected together. the same together. .The piston 11 is providedpwith mechanical pres- Referring to the drawing, a cylinder 10 slidsure means for sealing against the cylinder 10, `30 ably carries a piston llthat is secured to a hollow which means comprise a plurality of gaskets 51 Vpiston rod 12 in any desired manner, such as by which are received about the piston. -The gaskets aplug 13 which is threaded to engage cooperating 51 are separated by metal rings 52 andthe `whole threaded portions on the piston and rod. rI he rod assembly is forced together and into sealing rela- 12 extends through and is slidably journaled in tion with' the` inner wall-of the cylinder by a ring 35 a cylinder cap 14, which is secured Ato one end or 53,.which is threaded on the piston 11. the cylinder 10. The cap 14 is provided with suity Additional'uid pressure means for sealing beable mechanical pressure gasket means for sealing Atween ,the piston and the cylinder are provided, against the rod 12, which includespacking 15 diswhich areindicated generally by the numeral 54,

posed in a channel in the cap14. A gland n ut 16, and which include a collar 55 secured on the rod 40 which surrounds the rod l2 and which is threaded `l2` adjacent the piston l1. Thesealing means 54 in the end of the capV 14, serves to clamp the packare carried on the collar 55 and comprise a flexible ing 15 tightly in place and againstV theA rod 412. member 56 of leather or rubber which is supported A lock nut 17 is providedonthe gland nut v16 `by metal washers' and 58. The flexible member ande'ngages the, end of the cap 14 to hold the v56is formed with an integral annular lip 59 and 4,5

gland nut 16 locked in any desired position. the washer 58 is formed with an inwardly turned Other sealing means 18 are also provided beannular flange 60 aroundthe outer edges so that tween the cap 14 and piston rod 12, which sealing fluid under pressure will be readily accessible to meanstare fluid actuated and which include a iie'xthe lip 59.` i From the drawing, it will be observed ible member 19 of leather or rubber. The iiexible that a chamber 6l is formed between the sealing 50 member 19 is iormed with an integral axially exmeans 54 andgthepiston., The chamber is lled tending annular lip 20 and is adapted'to be supwith grease 62 or other lubricating means which ported between metal washers 21 and 22. The ,is supplied thereto underpressure by way of a washer 22 is provided with an axially extending pressure gun fitting 63 connected with the chamannular ange 23 at its inner periphery which ber by passages A64, whichtting is carried in the 55 plug 13 connecting the rod 12 and piston 11 gether.

The ring 53 is provided with passages 65 which open to thechamber 61 so that the lubricant 62 'will extend up into contacting relation with the end gasket 51 and will force it into engagement with the cylinder 10 by fluid as well as mechanical pressure.

In order to limit the movement of the piston 11 in the cylinder, suitable means are preferablyprovided which may comprise a sleeve 67 carried on the rod 12 which serves to position a flanged abut# ment 68 on the rod l2. In the movement of the rod 12 and piston 11 outwardly, the abutment 68 will engage with the inner Aend of the cap `14 to limit the travel of the rod l2 and piston 11 in the cylinder 10. f ,V

A ring cap 7l, filled with' absorbent waste 72, may be secured over the end of the cylinder 10 opposite of the cap 14 and will serve to`absorb any leakage of oil or grease past the gasketmeans on the piston.

In order to provide any desired .pressure within the cylinder 10, a valve is secured in the cap 14, which valve is connected with the interior of the cylinderv 10. l p

In the operation of the device the chambers 25 and 61 are initially filled with the'lubricants 26 and 62 by way of the fittings 27 and 63. Suiiicient lubricant is supplied so that considerable pressure is provided in the chambers which pressure serves to force the lips 20 and 59 of the flexible members 21 `and `57 tightlyinto sealing engagement. Fluid, such as air, is now supplied to the interior of the cylinder 10 to establish any desired pressure sovthat the device will be'given an initial resiliency. f

The device is now ready to resiliently connect any desired members together, which members may, asshown in Fig. 2, comprise. a wire bulkhead '75 and a main transverse frame'l of a rigid airship. The rod 12 of -the device willv beconnected to the frame 76 through the 'extensible threaded rod 32 and ballfand socket joint 34 while the cylinder 10 will be connected to the bulkhead 75 through the agency ofthe wires 44 and collar 41. ,Y

The seal provided by the mechanical gasket means 14 and 5l can be adjusted by tightening the gland nut 16 and the ring '53 respectively. The pressures'in the chambers 61 and 25 may be revived orincreased as found necessary from time totime by applying a pressure lgun to the ttings 27 and 63. This can be donei while the resilient fastening device'is inloperation.

If it is desired to adjust the distance between the means fastened together by the resilient device, the lock nut 33 on the threaded rod 32 Ymay be turned back and the rod 32 screwed incr out of the cap 31 the desired distance after which the nut 33 is run down against the cap 31 to -lock the rod 32 in the adjusted position.`

By making thecollar 41 smallerl than the overall cliameter of the cap 14 and cylinder 10, any chance for the fastening'means to fail completely mechanically is reduced inasmuch as'the piston 1l will be too big to pass through the collar 41. In use the piston 11 and rod 12 can travel in the cylinder 10 only until the abutment 68 vengages withthe inside end of the cap` 14. The

- distance the abutmentv68 is from the piston 11 can be varied by changing the length of the Acylinder 67. The leather washer' provides a'cushion between the glan'dlnu't 16 andthe nut 36 on the rod 12 so that the complete inward movement initially applied :'appliedfto the chamber;

of the rod 12 into the cylinder 10 willbesomewhat cushioned.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a resilient connecting device has been provided in which the resiliency can be initially adjusted over a wide range and which can be readily changedwhen desired. The device is strong and ecient in operation and yet is light in weight. Mechanical and Huid pressuregmeans are provided between the piston and cylinder andy between the rod and cylinder cap so that the pressure inthe cylinder is retained substantially constant in use over long periods. The resilient fastening device provides adjustable means whereby the distance between the means to be fastened together canr be varied,

which feature allows it to be more readily secured vto the means "to be fastened together andv which also gives a very desirable take-up between the means.

While the resilient fastening device is lightin weight and is particularly adapted for useV with aircraft, it will beapparent; that it may be'used in substantially any relation in which a resilient fastening member Although I have illustrated but the vpreferred form of the invention and have described that or shock absorbery is required. C

form in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the. invention is not y"so limited but that various therein without departing'from thespirit ofthe invention orxfrom the scope of thel appended claims.

What I claimis:

cylinder having one closedV end, ya piston slidably carriedin the cylinder,a rod secured toi-the piscylinder, means for sealing between the rodand the end of the-cylinder which include a gasket carried by the cylinder evndya,r` gasket nut surfrounding the rod and adapted to force the gasket into engagement with the romand an additional gasket carried by the cylinder end,jthe cylinder end having achamberbehind the -lastj named gasket, lubricating-means in the chamber, and means through which pressure canjbe applied to the chamber, means for sealing between-the pis'- ton and the cylinder including a pluralityof gaskets carried in a wide peripheral Achannel on the piston', a ringfor holding the gaskets'in po sition and for exerting pressure'thereon, anjad-r ditionaigasket'carried by the piston, said. piston having achamber' behind A i l in ,communication with certain of the firstI named gaskets on Vthe'piston, lubricating 'means inthe 4chamber,jand means whereby pressure'jan b e whereby a 'uid `under lpressure 2. A resilient connecting device including a cyl inderhaving .one closed end, ai pistoni slidab` carried inthe cylinder, a rodlsecuredv to t e piston and extending through ythe closed' the cylinder, gasket means for sealing the rod andV the end of the cylinder Vhic clude a gasket carried bythe cyline gasket nut surrounding the rod and 0 forcethe gasket into engagement withthe' rod, an additional gasket carried. by the cylinder end, the cylinder end having a chamber behind theA last named gasket, lubricating-means in the chamber, `and meanswhereby pressure lcan be gasket' means for -se'aling modications maybe made the iast namedf`gasket can be appliedv gto' the interior ofthe cylinder;

1. A resilient connectingdevice including a Gil between the piston and thec'ylinder and means wherebya uidunder pressure can Vbeapplied to the interior ofthe cylinder; y

3. A resilient" connectingdevice including" a cylinder having oneclosed end, a'piston slidably carriedV inthe cylinder, a rod" secured tothe piston andil extendingthrough the-closed endloi the cylinder, means for sealing between the-rod andthe end of the cylinder, meansforsealing between the piston andthe Cylinder including a plurality of gaskets 'sealed in a4 wide peripheral channel Von the piston, a ringfor-'holdingthe gaskets in position and for'exerting pressure thereon, aniv additionalg'asket carried by v'the piston, said piston havingj a-zchamber'behindfthe last named'gasket in communication with certain of the iirst namedggaskets also, lubricating means in the chamber, andmeans whereby presysure can be applied toftheiflubricating means', andmeans whereby a fluid under pressure can be applied to the' interior [of the 'cylinders l. A resilient device' includingl'a cylinder :having one' clsed end, yar piston slidablyfcarried in Vthe cylinder, aired secured; "to Vthe piston and extending through the closed enfd of the cylinderfmeans for sealingi between" the rod'a'n'd the end of the cylinder Wliichincludefa gasket carried by the `cylinder endj'agasket nutfsurrounding the rod andadapted'tojfrce-thef gasket into engagement with the"v rod,` andfian'y additional gasket carried by the cylindererd,1 thefcylin'der end having a chamberbehin-,dwthe last named gasket, lubricating meansin'the chamber, andV means whereby pressure can be applied to the chamber to force the last-named gasket into sealing relation with the rod.

5. A resilient device including a cylinder having one closed end, a piston sli-dably carriedV in the cylinder, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the closed end of the cylinder, means for sealing between the piston and the cylinder including a gasket carried in a peripheral channel on the piston, a ring for holding the gasket in the channel and for exerting vmechanical sealing pressure thereon, an additional fluid operated gasket carried by the piston, said piston having a chamber behind the last named gasket in communication with the first named gasket, lubricating means in the chamber, and means whereby pressure can be applied to the lubricating means to force all of the gaskets into tighter sealing relation.

6. A resilient device comprising a cylinder having a closed end, a piston in thecyli'nder, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the end of the cylinder, gasket means sealing between the piston and cylinder, and gasket means sealing between the rod and the end of the cylinder, each ofthe gasket means including means sealing by lubricating uid pressure, and means sealing by mechanical pressure, and means whereby iiuid under pressure can Vbe `,inserted in the cylinder to control the resiliency of the device.

7. A resilient fastening device comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the end of the cylinder, gasket means sealing between the piston and cylinder, and gasket means sealingv between the rod and the end of the cylinder, each of the gasket means including means sealing by lubricating fluid pressure, and means sealing by mechanical pressure.

8. A resilient connecting device comprising a cylinder having a closed end, a piston in the cylinder, 'mechanical sealingwxneans, and` fluid pressure sealing means between the piston and the cylinder, a hollow rod secured to the piston and4j extending through the end of the cylinder,

mechanical'sealing means and fluidV pressure 'i sealing means betweenv the rod andthe' Vend of the-cylinder, a collar on-the cylinderl adjacent the end thereof through which the rod extends, the collar being smallerthan the cylinder, means onthe collarby which'the cylinder is secured to one of the members to be connected together, and means' securedto and extending into the hollow rod an adjustable'distance by which the rod is secured to the other of the members to be connected together. I

9. A'resilient connecting devicef comprising `a cylinder having a closed' end, a piston slidablyy carried in"the"cylinder,'afrod connected to the l piston and extending" through the end ofI the cylinder, fluid pressure sealing Ymeans between the rod and the-cylinderend, and between the piston and the V"cylinder, and "valved conduit means' connected with theY fluid pressure' sealing means,the conduit meansbeing positioned so fthat fluid under pressure 4can be supplied thereto' while the device `is in 'operation e V10." A resilient connecting'device comprising a cylinder `having a closed end, apiston slidably carried in 4the cylinder, a rod connected to the piston and extending through the end ofthe cylinder, `fluid `pressure sealing means between the piston and the cylinder and valved conduit means connected withthe fluidv pressure sealing means, the Vconduit means being positioned so that fluid under pressure can be supplied thereto while the device is in operation.

11. In combination, a cylindrical member, a member slidably carried in the cylindrical member, sealing means carried by one of the members and engaging with the other member including a flexible disc having an annular, axially-extending, flange-lip in engagement with the member not carrying the sealing means, metal'reinforcing discs secured to each side of the flexible disc, the disc on the lip side of the ilexible disc being of smaller diameter than the flexible disc, the other disc being substantially the same diameter as the ilange lip and serving to properly center the flange lip, the member carrying the sealing means being provided with a chamber opening on the lip side of the sealing means, and a lubricant underpressure in the chamber.

12. In an air spring, a pair of telescoping members, one of said members comprising an annular annular packing carried by one member and bearing against the adjacent wall of the other member, an annular chamber for grease also carried by said iirst named member, and grease in said chamber, the Wall of said grease chamber adjacent said pressure chamber being adapted to transmit pressure to said grease chamber.

14. In an air spring, a pair of telescoping members closed at their ends lto form a pressure chamber, means for sealing the sliding joints between said members. one of Asaid means comprising an annular packing carried by one member and-bearing against the adjacent Wa-llqof Athefcther member, an annular chamber for grease alsofcarried by saidvrst named member, grease in saidcham,- ber, the wall of said grease.r chamber adjacent saidpressure chamber being movable to alimited extent in response to variations in pressure between said .tvvochambers and-a check va-Lve through Which-grease under pressure may be admitted to saidl grease chamber from the exterior of the device. Y y

15. In anair spring,.two telescopingmembers, one of said members carrying apackingfor the sliding j oint between thev mem-bers andl carrying alsoy a pocket of grease adjacent saidvpacking, said grease contacting the telescopingf surfacel of the other of said members, means for exerting pressure upon the grease in l, said pocket, and

means accessible from the exteriorof the device for injecting grease into said pocket against lthe action of said pressure exerting means.l

16'. In an air spring, a pair of telescopi-nglmembers, one of said-members comprising an annular packing bearing against Ithe adjacent Wall of the other member, said rst named member alsohaving an annularrecess, and a check valve accessible from the exterior of the deviceyadapted to admit lubricant under pressure to said recess, the lubricant in said recessbeing exposed to contact with said Wall'.v l l 17. In an air spring, a pair of telescoping members closed at their ends to form a pressure chamber; means for sealing the sliding joints between bv'l said rst named member, andv grease insaid.

chamber, thev wallof saidfgrease chamber: adjacent said, pressure chamber being movable to ja limited: extentin responseto variations in presy sure between'. said. two chambers. e e f 18. In a resilient tension device, a cylinder closed at. onev end and open at the othery end', a'v

itv

piston, a piston rod therefor extending through f an 'opening in said rclosed end, said piston having Y, anv annular recess-annular packing means within said-recess, a grease pocket movable, with said the cylinder, anda grease*connection` in Vsaid pistonaccessible,through the open end-orsettiv ,Y cylinder andcommunicating with s aidgrea'se y pocket.

19. InA an; lair spring, tvvo telescoping'members,

onel of said membersfcarrying a packing, for the slidingjoint between-the members, and. a pocket of greasecarried by the-samemember, saidgrease contacting thetelescoping surface. of` the. other Aof said members, said.. first, named member hiivifngI an-r area exposed to, theext'erior ofthe `device, and

having a grease passage'therethrough-commun# eating with, saidpocket-gand. with` said exposed area, andla. grease gunf'connection yatthefoutex'v end of said passage.

`OSCAR W. LUDENSLAGE.; v

pistonandopen `only towardgthevinner Vvirali-oi 

